WATCH ABOVE: Members of Black Lives Matter Toronto staged a sit-in during the Pride Parade on Sunday, halting the procession for 30 minutes, before a organizers of Pride Toronto signed a list of demands.

It was the first time a sitting Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, marched alongside thousands of members of the LGBTQ community and its allies. It was also the first time Black Lives Matter Toronto did the same, leading a passionate procession down Bloor and Yonge Streets.

When their members reached College Street they stopped, sat down, and ground the parade to halt. As thousands along the route wondered about the delay, members of Black Lives Matter issued demands to organizers. One of them was for the removal of all police floats in the future – a significant request considering the police’s popularity and presence in Canada’s largest pride parade.

Police and Black Lives Matter have been at constant odds over carding, which disproportionately targets black youth, and the shooting deaths of black men like Andrew Loku and Jermaine Carby.

A commitment to more black deaf and hearing ASL interpreters for the festival.

Removal of police floats in the pride marches/parades.

A public townhall, organized in conjunction with groups from marginalized communities, including, but not limited to, Black Lives Matter- Toronto, Blackness Yes, and BQY to be held six months from today. Pride Toronto will present an update and action plan on the aforementioned demands.

“During the parade, BLM-TO started a conversation with us to explore how we can create an even more inclusive and safe festival,” wrote Pride Toronto in a statement to Global News. “We, like BLM-TO have a commitment to ensure our most marginalized communities feel safe and welcome at the festival. We welcome this opportunity to continue the conversation with them.”

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Online some seemed unhappy about the decision to accommodate the demands.

At an open-air religious service on Church Street prior to the start of the parade, Reverend Brent Hawkes spoke of the need to actively welcome everyone within the LGBTQ tent – especially people of colour. He cautioned those who bandy the slogan “all lives matter” as an attempt to discredit the black queer movement.

Leaders of all three levels of government sat at the front row as Hawkes gave the speech.

When asked about Black Lives Matter’s inclusion in the parade, Premier Kathleen Wynne said, “I think it’s great. I think what Pride tries to do is celebrate, but also profile groups that are advocating for change and more inclusivity and that is what this is about.”

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“It’s a reminder that we have lots to do and that Black Lives Matter and their message is something that we all have to take to heart,” said Mayor John Tory.

It’s unclear, however, whether both politicians were aware the group was planning a sit-in and seeking to purge the parade of police marchers. Officers will still be present to enforce security at future parades.